An in-depth look at stupidity and things that we do not know we don't know. The article is a first in a series by by Errol Morris. Although published several years ago, the series offers valuable insight into why we are the way we are.

When people are incompetent in the strategies they adopt to achieve success and satisfaction, they suffer a dual burden: Not only do they reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate choices, but their incompetence robs them of the ability to realize it. Instead, . . . they are left with the erroneous impression they are doing just fine.

In other words, those who are incompetent are unable to recognize their own incompetence.

Moral Landscapes: What Is the Greatest Danger for an Uncircumcised Boy? A doctor’s visit can harm your boy. Written by John Geisheker, J.D., LL.M. and published on October 23, 2011 by Darcia Narvaez, Ph.D. in Moral Landscapes, Psychology Today.

WHAT IS THE MOST DANGEROUS EVENT FACING AN 'INTACT' (NOT CIRCUMCISED) BOY?

Aside from circumcision? ... a well-baby visit. Our physicians' international non-profit intervenes in over 100 cases each year of intact boys who were injured by a primary care provider. The injury is called 'PFFR,' or Premature Forcible Foreskin Retraction. We conservatively estimate the annual incidence in the U.S. at more than 100,000 cases. Ironically, many occur when a parent takes the child to a well-baby visit, at 6, 12, or 24 months; but this injury might occur at any age. The children we have helped range in age from one week to 12 years.

An article by Robert S. Van Howe of the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. He performed a systematic review and meta-analyses of studies to determine the effects of male circumcision on various sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). From the Abstract:

Chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, and human papillomavirus are not significantly impacted by circumcision. Syphilis showed mixed results with studies of prevalence suggesting intact men were at great risk and studies of incidence suggesting the opposite. Intact men appear to be of greater risk for genital ulcerative disease while at lower risk for genital discharge syndrome, nonspecific urethritis, genital warts, and the overall risk of any sexually transmitted infection. In studies of general populations, there is no clear or consistent positive impact of circumcision on the risk of individual sexually transmitted infections. Consequently, the prevention of sexually transmitted infections cannot rationally be interpreted as a benefit of circumcision, and any policy of circumcision for the general population to prevent sexually transmitted infections is not supported by the evidence in the medical literature.

A YouTube video about the penis. The video focuses on the intact (uncut) penis with some information on the circumcised penis. YouTube has age restricted the video because it shows the male sex organ. You may have to log onto YouTube and acknowledge that you are of age to view the video.

The American Urological Association developed a BPH Symptom Index Questionnaire that gives you an idea if there is a prostate problem. The questionaire calculates the AUA BPH Symptom Index Score that is often used by urologists to determine the severity of prostate problems.

Child Circumcision: An Elephant in the Hospital is a video by Ryan McAllister, PhD. McAllister presents a lecture for folks on all sides of the male circumcision debate. The video presentation covers circumcision history in the English-speaking world. He replaces the loaded words and terms surrounding the subject -- such as circumcised and uncircumcised -- with more neutral terms such as "genital cutting," and "intact." McAllister presents a fresh look at circumcision.

Today, many Americans think of circumcision as an outdated surgical procedure that is harmful for baby boys. Even still, neonatal male circumcision remains the most common operation carried out in the US today.

A 3-month-old male infant was referred to our center due to repeated tonic-clonic generalized
seizures approximately 20 minutes after the administration of 2cc lidocaine mg) during
circumcision.

Who says male infant circumcision is safe? These doctors wrote about one complication to an infant that occurred during the infant's circumcision. Parents need to be aware of the risks from neonatal surgery, such as male circumcision. Generally, anesthesia is safe, but there is always a risk. Is it worth it for parents to subject their infants to such a risk for an elective surgery?

NEW UPDATE! The Foreskin of the Day and Intact For Life websites are shutdown. For those wanting to see foreskin pictures, there are other websites. My favorite is Celebrating Foreskin on Tumblr.

---------------------------------------

Old Update! The creator of the Foreskin of the Day website created a new website in March 2011. Intact for Life features information and pictures on intact men. The new site provides a positive view for being intact, as nature intended men to be. Intact for Life will continue the tradition of the Foreskin of the Day site by offering pictures of intact men in its blog section. Other sections of the site provide information for young men on what it means to be intact, including the care and handling of the foreskin.

---------------------------------------

Old Breaking News! The Foreskin of the Day website is down! As of February 20, 2011, I have not been able to load the site. I have no idea when the site will return, if it ever does. In the mean time, you may want to check out Intact Men, 4skindelight, NORM: New England, Acroposthion, and Celebrating Foreskin on Tumblr for some good foreskin pictures of intact men. These Tumblr sites are NSFW.

I was circumcised at birth and looking at these pictures reminds me of what I lost by being circumcised. Fortunately, foreskin restoration is letting me enjoy some of the advantages of a foreskin.

Every day a new picture is shown. The pictures are in the style of glamour shots, showing the beauty of the model and his intact equipment. As a man who was circumcised shortly after birth, I wish I still had my whole sex organ. These pictures remind me of what I lost.

Along with each featured picture is a comment, some information, tip, or advice relating to intactivism. The site hopes to debunk foreskin myths and educate as well as show all what a foreskin looks like. People may be surprised by what they learn.

Foreskin of the Day is explicit. The site asks how can a blog celebrate the foreskin if it can't show pictures of them? Anyone offended by nudity, should not visit the site.

Study published in British Journal of Urology (BJU Int.) 2009 Apr; 103(8):1096-103. Epub 2009 Feb 24. The study used a self-reported questionaire and reports on various genital and nongenital areas in terms of erotic sensitivity for intact men (uncircumcised).

An article published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, Volume 35, Issue 5, pages 459–465, October 2011. DOI: 10.1111/j.1753-6405.2011.00761.x

Objective: To conduct a critical review of recent proposals that widespread circumcision of male infants be introduced in Australia as a means of combating heterosexually transmitted HIV infection.

Approach: These arguments are evaluated in terms of their logic, coherence and fidelity to the principles of evidence-based medicine; the extent to which they take account of the evidence for circumcision having a protective effect against HIV and the practicality of circumcision as an HIV control strategy; the extent of its applicability to the specifics of Australia's HIV epidemic; the benefits, harms and risks of circumcision; and the associated human rights, bioethical and legal issues.

Conclusion: Our conclusion is that such proposals ignore doubts about the robustness of the evidence from the African random-controlled trials as to the protective effect of circumcision and the practical value of circumcision as a means of HIV control; misrepresent the nature of Australia's HIV epidemic and exaggerate the relevance of the African random-controlled trials findings to it; underestimate the risks and harm of circumcision; and ignore questions of medical ethics and human rights. The notion of circumcision as a ‘surgical vaccine’ is criticised as polemical and unscientific.

Who is this guy?

Restoring Tally is just an ordinary guy who had to confront his prostate and circumcision problems. This site chronicles his journey in dealing with these issues. He has had prostate surgery and he is restoring his foreskin.